Editorial writing is a type of writing that presents the newspapers opinion on an issue. It reflects the majority vote of the editorial board, which is the governing body of the newspaper made up of editors and business managers. Editorials are meant to influence public opinion, promote critical thinking, and sometimes cause people to take action on an issue. They are opinionated news stories that engage issues, not personalities, and refrain from name-calling or other petty tactics of persuasion.
Editorials have the following characteristics:
- Introduction, body, and conclusion like other news stories
- An objective explanation of the issue, especially complex issues
- A timely news angle
- Opinions from the opposing viewpoint that refute directly the same issues the writer addresses
- The opinions of the writer delivered in a professional manner
There are different types of editorials, including interpretive, persuasive, critical, and appreciative. Editorial articles may appear in newspapers, magazines, or journals, and they often focus on the authors opinion of a current event or social issue. The goal of a good editorial is to persuade the reader to change their opinion to match that of the author. Editorial style is a set of guidelines or guardrails editors use to help make sure the words and sentences are as clear and compelling as possible.
To write an editorial, one should conduct necessary research to gather information about the audience and to collect evidence, examples, and support for the view being promoted. It is important to develop an outline to follow before beginning to write. In most editorials, the opinion of the writer is given near the beginning, followed by supporting evidence and examples, and the conclusion restates the writers view and provides a final appeal for the reader to agree to that view.
